CURLING: Edmonton to host Ford World Men's Curling Championship 2017

A city that holds the attendance record for three different curling events will host another World Curling Championship, it was announced jointly today by the World Curling Federation and Curling Canada.

The 2017 Ford World Men’s Curling Championship will be played between 1 and 9 April 2017 at Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta.

It will be the final chance for countries to earn qualifying points to secure their berths in the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea.

"2017 will mark 10 years since Edmonton last hosted this event, which proved to be a record-breaking Championship, with the attendance numbers reaching an all-time high," said Kate Caithness, President of the World Curling Federation. "We are certain Curling Canada, Ford of Canada and the local organising committee will put on yet another great event. The competition is set to be extremely exciting, with not only the World Men’s Championship title on offer, but it will be the last chance for the men’s curling teams to earn Olympic qualifying points for PyeongChang 2018."

Edmonton has a rich history of hosting major curling championships; the city holds the attendance records for the Ford World Men’s Curling Championship (184,970 in 2007), the Tim Hortons Brier (281,985 in 2005) and the Tim Hortons Roar of the Rings Canadian Curling Trials (175,852 in 2009), with all three events taking place at Rexall Place.

"Edmonton curling fans have shown their support for major championships repeatedly over the years, and we know it’s going to be another wonderful show, on and off the ice, in 2017," said Hugh Avery, Chair of Curling Canada’s Board of Governors. "We have amazing partnerships with the World Curling Federation and Ford of Canada, and it’s going to make for a memorable event in Edmonton."

Twelve teams, including the host team from Canada — which will be decided at the 2017 Tim Hortons Brier in St. John’s — will battle for the world title.

Additionally, it will be the second, and final, chance for countries to rack up qualifying points for the 2018 Olympic Winter Games. The seven highest-ranked countries, based on results from the 2016 World Men’s, presented by Ford of Canada, in Basel, Switzerland, and the 2017 Ford Worlds, will qualify for PyeongChang, joining the host South Korea. Two more countries will come out of a last-chance qualifying event, in December 2017.

Ford of Canada began its title sponsorship of the men’s and women’s world curling championships in 1995, when the first Ford Worlds was staged in Brandon, Manitoba.

"Ford of Canada is proud to be entering our 22nd year in partnership with Curling Canada," said Gerald Wood, General Manager, Western Region, for Ford Motor Co. of Canada. "We are honoured to be title sponsor of the 2017 Ford Men‘s World Curling Championship, a truly world-class event. On behalf of Ford, I want to thank the City of Edmonton, the host committee and all the volunteers who we know will make this event a great success."

Edmonton is no stranger to hosting major championships. In addition to the 2007 Ford Worlds, won by Canada’s Glenn Howard, the city also has played host to six editions of the Tim Hortons Brier, most recently in 2013.

"Edmonton is proud to host the 2017 Ford Men’s World Curling Championship," said Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson. "With our successful history of hosting major international sporting events, combined with our enthusiastic fans and our volunteer spirit, I’m confident this competition will be an enormous success."

The 2017 Ford Worlds will be televised exclusively and extensively in Canada by TSN/RDS2, from the round-robin, through the Page Playoffs, semi-final, Bronze Medal and Gold Medal games.

It will be Canada’s 23rd opportunity to host the World Men’s Championship. Canadian men’s teams have won 34 world championships since the event’s inception in 1959 — the most recent coming in 2012 when Team Glenn Howard claimed Gold in Basel, Switzerland.

For further information, contact:

Cameron MacAllister

Communications & Media Relations Manager

World Curling Federation

e: media@worldcurling.org

t: +44 (0)7937 604957

Al Cameron

Director, Communication and Media Relations

Curling Canada

e: acameron@curling.ca

t: 403-463-5500